National carrier of Bahrain – Bahrain Air started its daily non-stop flight operations on the Mumbai – Bahrain route effective from yesterday. Mumbai being the third destination, the airline is keen on expanding its route network in the country in the coming years.



During a media briefing today in Mumbai on the occasion of the launch of Mumbai – Bahrain service; Bart Schellens, Director – Commercial Operations, Bahrain Air said, “Starting non-stop services from Mumbai, the largest financial hub of India to Bahrain, is part of our strategic outlook for the Indian market and we are bullish about the growth prospects here. Along with the labour traffic (80 per cent), we are also receiving increased response from business, tourists and religious segment (20 per cent) from India.” The airline is considering launching a loyalty programme soon to further fuel the growth of load factors. Schellens informed that the airline is operating A319 (Seat Capacity: 12 Premium Class + 120 Economy Class) on Mumbai – Bahrain route as of now. “If required, we will start operating A320 (Seat Capacity: 12 Premium Class + 150 Economy Class) in future on this route,” added Schellens.
After launching its services to Kochi in May last year, the airline has witnessed a recordable growth from Kochi and Kozhikode (started in April 2009) to Bahrain. Currently, the airline is in talks with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to further increase the flight frequency and add more destinations to offer more options to passengers travelling on the Bahrain – India route.
Bahrain Air started commercial operations in February 2008, operating to 18 destinations in the GCC, the Levant, Africa, Iran and the Indian sub-continent with the Budget carrier business model. Currently, it has eight A319 and A320 aircraft and the carrier is going to add four more aircrafts soon.
Anita Jain/TravelBizMonitor

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Bahrain Air is set to launch direct flights from its base in Manama to Abu Dhabi and the South Indian city of Calicut, Kerala, starting from March next year.

Announcing this on Saturday, the airline's managing director Ibrahim Abdulla Al Hamer said, “Bahrain Air will operate eight weekly flights to Abu Dhabi starting from March 23. It is the second UAE destination after Dubai.'

'The carrier will fly thrice a week to Calicut with the first flight taking off on March 16,' he noted.

Calicut is the airline's second Indian destination after it began operations from South Indian city of Kochi.

'The airline plans to expand as per the business plan which is approved by the board members and the executive management of the company,' he observed.

By increasing the number of stations in the Indian market and in the UAE, Bahrain Air can strongly enter the promising market, he noted.

'Last week we celebrated the inauguration of our 11th station, Kuwait and the operation of both Asyut and Luxor in Egypt, and we are waiting for December 16 to inaugurate the 14th destination, Khartoum the Sudanese capital.

29/11/08 Trade Arabia, Bahrain